DOC EDGE SCHOOLS

Doc Edge Schools engages students with current issues, critical questions and new perspectives to inspire and evoke discussion and learning in the classroom.

Our programmes are curated especially for students from year 5-13, as well as tertiary. This year our free in-theatre programme covers current social and environmental issues, different cultural perspectives and the future of technology. Our in-theatre programme is an exciting opportunity for schools to see films for free from our festival and participate in Q&As with filmmakers and industry guests at Q Theatre and Māngere Arts Centre in Auckland and The Roxy in Wellington.

Doc Edge Schools is made possible thanks to the generous support of the Rei Foundation.

Book your school session now!

Student Film Competition

Entries for the 2020 Student Documentary Short Film Competition are now open!
We are seeking submissions from student film makers in the secondary and tertiary categories.
Each category has a significant cash prize for best documentary short thanks to the generous support of The Wallace Foundation.

Secondary Shorts can be up to 5 minutes in duration
Tertiary Shorts can be up to 15 minutes in duration

All rights must be cleared by the film maker, and are the responsibility of the film maker.
Films must have been produced between January 15th 2019 and January 15th 2020.
Submissions close 12noon January 15th 2020.
Short documentaries must have been made by student film makers who produced their short documentary while attending a Secondary School or tertiary institution.

Recommendations:
While we do not like to constrict creativity, here are some tips that will put you in a better position for selection for our finalists programme.

• We are looking for social justice or ‘issues’ themed documentaries
• We tend to avoid selecting documentaries with voiceover or “voice of god” narration
• Participatory documentaries (where the directors insert themselves as a character in their own documentary) are difficult to pull off, and we tend not to select these.
• Before you choose your subject, do a little research to see if there have been many / any recent documentaries produced on the same topic. Originality is a big plus.
• Please do check your credits and titles for spelling errors before you submit
• Good quality sound, and pictures will put you in a better position than other entrants. (Sound with consistent levels is especially important)
• Creativity and experimentation is welcome, but do not let this detract from a strong narrative in your film. Animation is also welcome.
• Character driven documentaries with a clear story are often more successful. IE following one person on their quest to tackle a social issue and their emotional rises and falls as they have triumphs and failures.
• Make sure you check all of our terms and conditions before entering.

Good luck, and we hope to see your documentary on the big screen in 2020!

2019 FILMS

View trailers, book sessions and find out about our films for schools here. Click on the film to watch the trailer and find out more.

Synopsis: What happens when your country is being swallowed by the sea?As climate change causes sea levels to rise the low-lying Pacific Island nation, Kiribati is drowning. Anote Tong, Kiribati’s endearing president, must find a way to make sure his island and his people can survive.It’s a race against time. Anote’s Ark interweaves two poignant stories. While Anote seeks help from the International Community and investigates futuristic underwater cities, Sermary, a young mother of six, must decide whether or not to leave her island and 4000-year-old culture behind and migrate to a new life in Aotearoa, New Zealand.

Synopsis: Musician Dan Reynolds grew up a Mormon. But the lead singer and creative force behind Imagine Dragons is forced to question the role of the Church’s opposition to same sex relationships to skyrocketing number of teen suicides in Utah. Dan and Tyler Glen, an ex Mormon and openly gay lead singer of The Neon Trees, decide to create LoveLoud, a music and spoken word festival which they hope will spark dialogue between the church and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.Believer follows Dan as he risks relationships with his faith, family and fans to stand up for what he believes -that we should all be loved and accepted for who we are.

Synopsis: What is fame? Why do we want it? And what does it take for an ordinary person to get it? When three Aussie filmmakers discover that foreign talent is in hot demand in Japan they move to Tokyo, on an outrageous DIY mission to make ‘ordinary’ Dave famous. Along the way they perform some decidedly crazy stunts and meet an eclectic ensemble of ‘ gainjin tarento” (foreign talent) at various stages of the celebrity journey, including Ladybeard: a feisty and bearded Aussie cross dresser; Kelsey: a starry- eyed Canadian Girl, J-pop wannabe and veteran TV sweetheart; and Bob ‘ The Beast’ Sapp. But just how far must they go to reach the mass audience that real celebrity requires?

Synopsis:Awa is eighteen, passionate about film making … and transgender. Four years ago she began hormone treatment to transition from male to female – an act of courage that began a journey to becoming her authentic self, both inside and out. But she must look overseas to complete her journey. Open and engaging, Awa tells her own story.

Synopsis:We first meet Selvi at a girls’ shelter -a timid runaway from her violent husband whom she was forced to marry at 14. Over a remarkable ten-year journey, Selvi defies all expectations by not only learning to drive but becoming South India’s first female taxi driver, starting her own taxi company, leading educational seminars, and much more. Her story highlights the challenges of being a female in a society where women are often considered expendable or worthless. Selvi is exceptional — a charming, strong and courageous young woman who moves beyond the pain she has experienced to create a new life.

Synopsis: Kiwi open water swimmer Kim Chambers is about to chase her biggest dream yet. The inspirational, US based swimmer aims to become the first woman to complete a 50 kilometre solo swim from the Farallon Islands – a notorious breeding ground for Great White sharks – to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge. Freezing temperatures, swirling currents and the ever-present threat of shark attack make this possibly the hardest marathon- swim in the world. The film follows Kim as she faces both the emotional and physical challenges of the swim, and looks at what propels her to conquer her fears to achieve her potential.

Synopsis: In Australia’s Frank Baxter Juvenile Justice Centre, young offenders are preparing to perform Shakespeare’s MACBETH in front of their fellow inmates and families.Aged between 16 and 21, most of the boys have had little formal schooling. Rehearsals become a revealing and constant physical and emotional challenge for both teachers and young offenders as they struggle to come to grips with Shakespeare’s language and their fears of performance while dealing with the harsh realities of life on the inside. The film explores life on the inside for these young men, including the emotional toll the programme takes on them, as they work towards a performance that could change their lives.

Synopsis: Soaring at 28,000 feet without a drop of fuel, two courageous pilots take turns at flying the world’s first solar powered aircraft. But once in the air nothing is predictable – not the weather, the technology nor the fate of the man, alone for five days in the fragile craft. Point of No Return goes beyond the news headlines to reveal the breakdowns and tensions behind the experiment as the pilots battle nature, their ground crew and sometimes logic itself to achieve the impossible.

Synopsis: From the Rajasthan Desert to the bustling city of Kolkata, Reggae -loving busker, Fillippo Mase aka ‘ ‘Miserable Man” discovers the power of music to connect across generations and cultures. Travelling with only his back-pack and trusty guitar the freedom loving muso’ crosses paths with an intriguing range of characters: fellow musicians, spiritual seekers and street kids. POSTCARDS follows Fillippo’s journey as he entertains, engages and observes the extraordinary contrasts in Indian society.

Synopsis:This powerful documentary follows the highs and lows of much-loved New Zealand music idol and actor Stan Walker, as he comes face to face with one of life’s biggest challenges. This feature follows Stan as he allows cameras to get up close and personal, to follow him for months as he battles serious health issues, with family by his side. Stan is an intimate journey, capturing raw emotion, highs, lows, challenges and humour as we see his close bond with his mother, April, and his wider whanau.

Synopsis: Sisters, Elke and Carla Braun-Elwert plan a breathtaking journey to ski the major glaciers of the Southern Alps. The route will take them over 40Km and 4000 vertical meters from the heart of the South Island to the West Coast as they pay homage to their father Gottlieb Braun- Elwert, the first man to have traversed the glaciers in just 18 hours. They relive his incredible journey through a landscape that Gottlieb described in 1985 as “ a route of astonishing beauty, immense freedom, breathtaking vistas and untamed wilderness,a “Symphony on Skis.”

Synopsis:In a remote Afghan village, a dedicated Afgani woman opens the very first girls school, challenging age old religious and cultural traditions. But while the girls learn to read and write, their newfound hopes and dreams are threatened by the prospect of arranged marriages and the ever present threat of the Taliban. From the school’s beginnings in 2009 to its first graduating class in 2015, the film traces the interconnected stories of students, teachers, village elders, parents and school founder Razia Jan.

Shorts #1: Coming of Age

The children at the heart of these poignant films all share the experience of growing up too soon.In their own way, each of the characters we meet show extraordinary courage and resilience as they face the problems and challenges in their young lives.

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes:Child labour; family; culture; poverty; growing up; inequality;Curriculum links: Key competencies; English; Geography; Media Studies; Social Studies, Sociology; Social SciencesSynopsis:Eight year old Bamunu hasn’t seen her family since she was sent work as a ‘living shopping basket” in a distant town. Life is harsh in the markets where Bamunu carries heavy loads backwards and forwards on her head for long hours and little reward. Longing to escape, she begs to go home. But what awaits her?

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes:Family; relationships; honouring promises; identity; loss; diversity; acceptance; growing upCurriculum links: Key competencies; English, Media Studies; Social Studies; Social SciencesSynopsis:Thirteen-year-old Andy promised his grandfather and mother that he would never leave the military band that they loved so much. But there have been no recruits since Andy joined and the band will come to an end if he can’t find any new members. Andy may be forced to break his promise.

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes:Family; refugees; identity; belonging; humour; diversity; relationships; growing upCurriculum links: Social Studies / English/ Social Sciences/ Media StudiesTrailer:https://vimeo.com/242718599Synopsis:Sometimes all we need is a listening ear. But what will children tell a complete stranger? Listen is an unexpected experience – a funny and poignant revelation of the anxieties and concerns of children seeking help from a Child Helpline.

Shorts #2: Breaking the Barriers

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes: Extreme Kayaking; Outdoor education; cultural differences; risk takingCurriculum links: Key competencies; English; Geography; Media Studies; Outdoor Education; Physical Education; Science; Social Studies; Synopsis: Three extreme kayakers including New Zealand Olympian, Mike Dawson head to Pakistan to attempt a descent of the infamous Rondu Gorge on the Pakistan’s Indus River. Franco –Irish Filmmaker Ciarain Hearteau goes with them to capture the wildness of the ride, the political volatility of Pakistan and the warmth of its people.

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes:Football; Women’s Rights; breaking barriers; identity; cultural divides; political divides; living in a war ZoneCurriculum links: Key competencies; English; History; Geography, Media Studies; Physical Education; Social Studies; SociologySynopsis:Against a background of religious, economic and political hardships, two young women help forge Palestine’s first National Women’s Soccer team. Honey is Christian and Naveen is Muslim but both are working to challenge religious and cultural ideas and help break down symbolic walls.

Suitability: Years 5-13Themes: Refugee crisis; children; cross cultural connections;/ Understanding OthersCurriculum links: Key competencies; English; History; Geography; Media Studies; Social Studies,Synopsis:In their school holidays Dutch schoolboys, Merlijn (11) and Sil (10) travel to Greece to see for themselves how Syrian refugee children are living. In Lesbos they visit a refugee camp, play games with the children and help volunteers distribute food – and with the help of an iPhone they begin to communicate and form strong friendships.

Suitability: Years 7-13Themes: Women in Leadership; Changes in Tradition; Family RelationshipsCurriculum links: Key competencies; English; Media Studies; Pacific Island Studies; Social Studies; Social SciencesSynopsis:Mary and Tulafe are unusual in their South Auckland Samoan Community. They are female chiefs known as Tulafale or ‘Orators,” a role traditionally held by men in Samoan society. Salamasina’s Daughters follows the two women and the challenges they face speaking as a Tulafale to serve their family and community.

Synopsis:After the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake, 3000 Filipino workers were brought to New Zealand to help rebuild Christchurch. Obrero tells of the struggles, issues and dreams of these new immigrants who remained penniless for almost year while paying large recruitment fees and who must now find a place for themselves in a new country.

TILL SCHAUDER

Santa Smokeswas Schauder’s feature debut. It won several awards, among them Best Director at the Tokyo International Film Festival and the Studio Hamburg Newcomer Award. In 2012, Till completed his first documentary The Iran Job, which was released worldwide, mentioned as an Oscar contender and shortlisted for a German Academy Award in 2014. His latest documentary When God Sleeps premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival 2017. When God Sleeps won the “Cinema for Peace Award” for Most Valuable Documentary of the Year during this year’s Berlinale. Till also recently completed Warriors of Faith for which he just won a German Emmy.

PIETER VAN HUYSTEE

Pieter started as a photographer before becoming the creative director of IDTV.In 1995 Pieter started his own production company. Since then he has produced documentaries, feature films and single plays with many well-known Dutch directors. By combining daring with decisiveness, Pieter van Huystee Film has become one of the leading Dutch independent production companies, highly esteemed for the quality and wide range of its projects. Many van Huystee documentaries and features are screened at festivals all over the world and have won many awards.

JOE WILSON & DEAN HAMER

Emmy Award-winning Hawaii-based filmmakers and long-time activists Dean Hamer and Joe Wilson make documentaries that emanate from the voices of those on the outside, that inspire creativity, that incite us to abandon our comfortable role as spectators and compel us to both question and act. Their films – including Out in the Silence, KumuHina, and A Place in the Middle – have screened and won awards at film festivals around the world and have been viewed by millions of television viewers. Their impact campaigns have reached thousands of grassroots community groups and classrooms around the world. Dean and Joe are Fellows of the Sundance Institute.

MALINDA WINK

Malinda’s professional experience spans senior roles within the corporate, political, philanthropic and NGO sectors. She has served on various advisory boards including the Social Enterprise World Forum (2010), was a Mentor for the Sundance Institute Documentary Film Program Pitch Workshops (2015 & 2016) and now serves on the boards of The Caledonia Foundation and Australian Progress. Malinda has worked as a consultant advising on business strategy and capital raising for several for-profit film companies including Madman Films, Hopscotch, Transmission Films and Electric Pictures, and the not-for-profit sector, including Social Ventures Australia and the Sustainable Social Enterprise Project.

TOM ZUBRYICKI

Tom Zubrycki is an award-winning Australian filmmaker whose documentaries have earned an international reputation for their truthfulness, realism and humanity. Zubrycki has for the last 30 years mapped Australia’s changing social and political landscape. He is well known for his distinctive observational story-telling style and his ability to get close to his subjects. Hope Road (2017) was nominated for the Documentary Australia Foundation Award at Sydney IFF. His awards as producer include an International Emmy for Exile In Sarajevo (1996). In 2010 Tom received the Stanley Hawes Award “in recognition of outstanding contribution to documentary filmmaking in Australia”

KYLIE BOLTIN

Commissioning Editor Online Documentaries, SBS

Kylie Boltin is the Commissioning Editor, Online Documentaries at SBS where she directs the slate of interactive documentaries for the Australian broadcaster. Projects Kylie has directed/ produced or commissioned over the past five years are widely recognised as leading examples of innovation and storytelling for the web with selection and recognition from IDFA, SXSW, Sheffield Doc/Fest, Future of Storytelling, The Walkleys, The Webbys, AIMIA and others. Kylie’s background is as an award winning independent documentary filmmaker and writer across multiple platforms. She holds a PhD in Creative Media and a Masters in Creative Writing and has taught in Australia and the USA.

KEN-ICHI IMMAMURA

Executive Producer/ Co-production, NHK Enterprises

Imamura joined NHK in 1983 as a TV director with a focus on international affairs. Between 2005 and 2009, he worked for NEP (NHK Enterprises) distributing NHK programmes abroad. Since 2009, he worked at NHK headquarters and was the producer/commissioning editor of World Documentary. A regular guest at many international documentary festivals and markets, he has co-produced about ten documentaries. He is now the executive producer in charge of coproduction projects. He also produces the slot of Inside Lens introducing Asian documentaries to the world. In 2011, he started Tokyo Docs the sole international documentary event in Japan with a pitching session.

YARIV MOZER

Yariv Mozer graduated with distinction from Tel-Aviv University’s Film and Television Department in 2004. He directed documentary and feature films, among them are Ben-Gurion, Epilogue (Israel-France-Germany 2016), Snails in the Rain (Israel-Spain 2013), The Invisible Men (Israel-The Netherlands 2012), and My First War (Israel 2008). Mozer produced more than 15 films including The Heart of Jenin (Germany 2008) and Inheritance (Israel-France-Turkey 2012). Mozer, former head of Entrepreneurial Producing Program at The Jerusalem Sam Spiegel Film School (2007-2010). He is a graduate of EAVE Producer’s workshop, a member of the European Film Academy and the Israeli Academy of Motion Picture.

SIR BOB HARVEY

Sir Bob Harvey was the Chairman of Waterfront Auckland, serving 6 terms as Mayor of Waitakere, and awarded, with six international Mayors, the United Nations Award for Peace in 1997. He also received the United Nations Life Time Achievement Award for the Environment in 2007 and a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit in the New Year Honours for 2013. Sir Bob is a prolific leader and worked tirelessly for and within the screen industry. He was an early documentary filmmaker and also led an advertising agency for many years prior to his mayoralty, winning numerous awards. He recently published his biography A Life Less Ordinary.

In 2019, with generous support from the Rei Foundation, Doc Edge Schools will be granting significant travel subsidies based on:

Your school’s distance from the theatre

How many students your school is planning to bring

How many sessions your school is planning to attend

Fill out the form below and tell us why you would like to attend, and you’ll go into the draw for a $200 travel subsidy to help your students attend these free Doc Edge Schools screenings!
To qualify, submit your form by 17th May along with your booking request.

School Name*

School Address*

Contact Person*

Contact Details*

Is this your first time attending DOC EDGE schools?*

Yes

No

Are you bringing special needs students to attend relaxed screenings?*

Yes

No

How many students are you bringing to the DOC EDGE schools festival?*

How many sessions are you booking?*

Tell us briefly why think your school should receive the transport subsidy:*